"לעשרה הרוגי מלוכה"
“The ten martyrs who were put to death by the government.”
QUESTION: Where is there a remez — hint — in the Torah for the martyred Sages?
ANSWER: The Romans summoned the ten Sages and inquired, “What is the law regarding one who kidnaps a person and sells him as a slave?” They answered, “According to Biblical law, the perpetrator should be put to death.” “If so,” the king exclaimed, “this punishment should have been meted out to the brothers who kidnapped Yosef and sold him into captivity, and now it is you who must bear the sin of your forefathers.”
When Yosef revealed himself to his brothers, the Torah related that “He kissed his brothers and vayeivk aleihem — he cried upon them” (Bereishit 45:15). The word “aleihem” — upon them — is superfluous, wouldn’t just “vayeivk” — “and he cried” — be sufficient?
The word “aleihem” (עלהם) is an acronym for "עתידים להיות הרוגי מלכות" — “There will be ten martyrs.” Yosef saw through Ruach Hakodesh — Divine inspiration — that in the future ten great Sages would be slain by the Roman government because he was sold.
(קרבן העני)
Start a Discussion